Summary
Mickey Mouseand his friends are some of the most widely recognized cartoon characters in history, and Marvel Comics just helped them make the jump from ‘beloved’ to ‘badass’ withWhat If?cover art that shows Mickey and the gang as mutant members of theX-Menduring the team’s Krakoan Era. While the image itself is undeniably cool, the implications of it are utterly fascinating - and more than a bit hilarious.
In a release fromMarvelannouncing the launch of a new line ofWhat If?variant covers featuring Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and the rest as reimagined Marvel Comics characters, fans get a first-look at the aforementionedDisney/X-Men-mashup cover art. One of the variants is a reimagining of the cover forHouse of X#1, replacing the iconic X-Men heroes with classic Disney characters. It was done by artist Paolo Mottura.
Mickey Mouse fills the role of Professor Charles Xavier, leading the X-Men through the first Krakoan Gate. Donald Duck fills Magneto’s shoes, with Minnie Mouse as Jean Grey, Goofy as Wolverine, and Pluto as Cyclops. Each Disney character is strangely perfect for their respective X-Men roles (with Goofy as Wolverine being a bit of a stretch, but still fun). However, the best part of this image is the ‘What If’ scenario is it forces fans to consider: what if Mickey Mouse and friends endured the entirety of X-Men’s Krakoan Era?
The Disney What If? Variant Covers will be featured on the following upcoming Marvel Comics issues:Amazing Spider-Man#59,Amazing Spider-Man#61, andAmazing Spider-Man#63.
X-Men’s Krakoan Era was One of the Team’s Most Tragic, Making This Disney Variant Hilarious
During the Krakoan Era, the X-Men effectively stopped being a superhero team, and became an established nation whose loyalties were only to mutantkind. They became pariahs around the globe, with anti-mutant organizations weaponizing Sentinels to wipe them out. Not only that, but the X-Men faced utter corruption in every facet of the mutant nation, including and especially the once righteous Professor X, who was playing god while manipulating global politics and effectively ordering executions whenever he saw fit.
The X-Men bent their morals to survive as a nation, disregarding heroism for survival - and in the end, they paid the price. Orchis and its Sentinels slaughtered the X-Men, crushed Krakoa, and forced the entirety of mutantkind to start over from scratch, which is currently being explored in the X-Men’s From the Ashes Era. The Krakoan Era ended in gruesome death and heartbreaking tragedy. So, imagine how hilarious it would be if, instead of the X-Men experiencing this unparalleled horror and soul-crushing loss, it was the likes of Mickey, Donald and Goofy going through it.
The X-Men Aren’t the Only Ones Getting the Disney What If? Variant Cover Treatment
Uncanny X-Men#268,House of X#1, andAvengers#500
While these covers will be featured on upcomingAmazing Spider-Manissues, the original comic book covers they’re inspired by areUncanny X-Men#268,House of X#1, andAvengers#500. These covers were chosen due to how iconic they were upon initial publication, making them the perfect choices to get the Disney What If? Variant Cover treatment. And like withHouse of X, the other covers allow fans to not only enjoy the artwork itself, but actually imagine Mickey and the gang experiencing what the original Marvel characters they’re filling in for experienced.
It’s hilarious to consider such innocent and kid-friendly characters forced into the most violent and heart-wrenching moments in Marvel Comics history. Goofy’s iconic yell as he’s repeatedly murdered by Nimrod, Mickey saying ‘oh gosh’ as he uses telepathy to eradicate mutantkind on Orchis’ command, Donald’s unhinged scream as he uses Magneto’s powers to battle Sentinels. The scenarios these variant covers inspire are priceless, but more than that, the variants themselves are undeniably awesome, especially the one featuringMickey Mouseand friends joining theX-Men’s Krakoa.
